Being the first stage of electioneering process the roles political parties can play to ensure the democratic ideals and principles are kept cannot be undermined.
This particular revelation is based upon the undoubted reality that whoever must emerge a winner at the general elections must first of all be made from his party’s primary election.
Hence, the stage is sacrosanct for political candidates.
The political developments in Kogi-east which is the Igala-dominated Senatorial district is with much intrigue especially at this trial period in the politics of the state where the majority people of the state are reserving their angers against their perceived failure of the incumbent government of Yahaya Bello.
At least PDP which is in place of the opposition is expected to display element of substance of in their party arrangements to produce a populous candidates with strength and courage to lead the party to victory come February 2019.
It is a novel play of political games which every Kogite whose believe or desire in the possibility of change of government come 2019 in the state must watch with great intrigue.
As observed from the recent wooing of supporters across the nine local government areas in Kogi-east by the chief of staff to the governor, Mr. Edward Onoja, for Jibril Isah Echocho, the former governorship aspirant under PDP for Kogi-east senatorial district, the long-held rumoured news of APC’s reservation of Kogi-east Senate ticket for Echocho has become obvious.
The intention which is to use his selling charisma for Bello’s re-election is in serious play; at least in politics.
In pursuance of that unpopular decision, the Administrator of Igalamela/Odolu local government area Baron was sacked for his alleged intent to contest for Kogi-east Senatorial district office reserved for Echocho.
This was the administrator whose achievements in less than three years was reportedly said to be far from the state governor’s achievements in terms of infrastructure developments.
As the first law in the 48 Laws of Power said “Never Outshine Your Master,” the Administrator received the consequence of the violation of the sacred law because of developing his local government area instead of misusing the granted allocations to his local government area as his counterpart Administrators have done in their respective local government areas.
No wonder his decision to contest for Kogi-east senatorial district landed him in sack from the office.
Following the sack of the Administrator, the Secretary to the state government, Ayode Folashade, released a Memo based on the directive of the governor admonishing any of the appointees of the governor who wishes to contest any political office to resign his/ her appointment immediately.
The game was to pave ways for the candidature of Echocho in Kogi-east and others in the other senatorial districts of the state for the anointed candidates of the government who in turn would be used for the smooth re-election of the governor.
All these are political games.
Since the APC-led government of Yahaya Bello in state seems to have locked the gates to internal democracy of the party in the state, unimaginable dangers may be caused the party’s relevance in the state despite the already division in the party following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu without successful reconciliation.
This puts the opposition PDP at the centre of Kogi politics.
In Kogi-east, however, PDP is flooded with aspirants for the party’s Senate ticket with their various personality attributes.
It is important for the party to consider many factors for the election if their Senate ticket amongst which is devotion and loyalty to the party and also selling personality for the general elections from the party’s choice.
Hence, the party’s Senate ticket for Kogi-east would have to be based on consensus.
The implication is the production legitimate and popular candidate which would no doubt be applauded as the party’s realisations of their mistakes in the past in the districtin the last decade.
While it is important to note that Dekina Federal Constituency which has produced two senators for the Senatorial district in the past has resolved for the decision of PDP power shift to Idah Federal Constituency, the current Senator of the district Atai Aidoko from Ankpa Federal constituency is bent on returning for the third time amidst lack of acceptance.
Ankpa Federal Constituency has pledged to give support to Idah Federal Constituency to produce the next Kogi east senator.
Idah Federal Constituency too is not without the play of politics.
The four local government areas in the constituency are in depth display of politics.
While Idah, Igalamela/Odolu and Ibaji have produced House of Representatives members of the Constituency since 1999, Ofu local government area which has not produced the House of Representative Office is given the chance this time under PDP despite the fact that Dr.
Victor Adoji, who hails from the same local government area, is aiming for the district Senate office under PDP.
With Idah producing the current House of Representatives member of the Constituency, Ibaji is resolved to take the Senate ticket in Engr. John Ibrahim Ocheje.
Igalamela/Odolu is not producing under PDP any candidate for each of the posts for the Constituency. While Ofu has a formidable candidate to take the House of Representative position in the forthcoming PDP convention in the Constituency which is coming first before the District Convention, hopefully a candidate from Ofu wins then the chance of Ofu presenting the Senate ticket may be lost.
Hence, the formidable character of Engr. John Ibrahim from Ibaji may emerge PDP’s Senate flag-bearer to meet with APC’s preserved senatorial candidate Echocho whom many people in the district adjourned to be in lack of political relevance to face the final battle.
The political game of Kogi-east awaiting 2019 is really interesting. Only God and time could prove our expectations wrong.
– Abdullahi Suleiman Otiwe writes from Lokoja, Kogi state
Asokogi@ gmail.com; 08064188686
